Decorative attachment for a bra

ABSTRACT

A bra arrangement has a bra with a cup area and a backstrap. The bra further has a pair of connection elements on opposing sides of the bra behind respective portions of the cup area and prior to respective portions of the back strap. A decorative attachment has connection points at either end, configured to attached to corresponding connection elements on the bra.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/380,157, filed on Aug. 26, 2016, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a bra and bra accessories. More particularly, this invention relates to a bra and bra accessories for wearing with backless or open back tops and dresses.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Many current fashion designs for dresses and tops have a “backless” appearance or a draped opening back where the back bra strap would be visible, especially for long gowns and dresses. In addition, many tops have been designed with backless openings or are very sheer.

The current known strapless bras or backless bras on the market that attempt to solve this problem are not adequate for women with larger breasts or women that require additional lift. These products can leave women looking uneven or hanging too low on top. They can also become unglued and fall off when you perspire or even make women look lopsided if only half comes unglued.

Other attempted solutions for providing breast support to women wearing backless dresses include designs having two additional straps that attach to the back of the bra to pull it down and tie in the front around your waste. Such designs can be incredibly uncomfortable and could detract from proper fit of a fitted dress. Additionally, most women having large breasts or older women prefer a fuller support or “real support” bra with underwire and straps that enables them to wear the current backless or open back fashions.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY

The present arrangement provides for a bra, to be used in conjunction with backless or open back tops or dresses, that includes changeable “jewelry like” pieces or any type of decorative items to cover the unsightly bra hooks/back strap. This is enables the woman to not only wear a fully supportive bra with a backless dress or top, but also to cover the primary back strap with a decorative attachment. Moreover, given the present design, the decorative attachment can be changed using the same primary bra structure, allowing the woman to wear different decorative looks each time the bra is worn by alternating the attachments.

In one arrangement, a one-piece bra is provided, having an underwire, a silky opaque material in decorative colors such as gold, silver, black, etc. The bra has a front closure and comes with a detachable silk piece, in the same material as the rest of the bra, that is removably attached via snaps, a zipper or hooks. This enables the user to attach other decorative pieces to the bra. It can be constructed in a strapless form with plastic detachable straps or simply with silky regular straps. Such an arrangement can be used with sheer tops and dresses. It is understood that the bra can also be made in the regular cotton fabrics for the use of the back jewelry look and not for the sheer fashions, if desired.

In another embodiment, a one-piece strapless bra is provided, having and underwire and dimensioned in a variety of cup sizes. Attached to the side of the bra are snaps strategically placed to hold the decorative pieces securely. In one arrangement, as most bras have 3 different hook positions to attach, the snaps will be placed so that the decorative pieces with be able to stretch to accommodate each bra position.

In some arrangements, the measurement from the tightest hooks to the loosest hooks on the bra strap is usually about 1½ inches. In this case, two snap options are provided on either side of the bra cups to attach to. The bra may be accompanied by a first decorative silky solid piece to match the color of the bra, with additional pieces available with a variety of ornamentation. Optionally, this bra could be strapless, have detachable straps or it could have regular straps.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a bra with a front closure, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front view of a bra with a front closure and detachable straps, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the bra of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a back view of the bra of FIG. 1 with a series of snaps for attaching a decorative attachment on the back of the bra, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a back view of the bra of FIG. 1 with a series of hooks for attaching a decorative attachment on the back of the bra, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a back view of the bra of FIG. 1 with a zipper for attaching a decorative attachment on the back of the bra, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 7A-7C each show a decorative attachment for attachment to the back of the bra of FIG. 1, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a bra with a back closure, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are back view of the bra of FIG. 8 with a decorative attachment across the back, in accordance with one embodiment;

FIGS. 10A-10C each show a decorative attachment for attachment to the back of the bra of FIG. 8, in accordance with one embodiment; and

FIGS. 11A-11C shows a decorative area of one material attached to the decorative attachment of a second material, in accordance with one embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In one embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, a bra 10 has a cup portion 12, straps 14 and a back strap 16. In this arrangement shown in FIG. 1, a clasp 20 is in the front between the cup portions 12. FIG. 2 shows an option with removable straps 14. FIG. 3 shows the back of bra 10 with no attachment elements. This bra 10 may be constructed of any normal materials and fabrics ordinarily used for bras, including the use of clear plastic for straps 14.

In one embodiment show in FIGS. 4-6, bra 10 additionally has attachment elements across back strap 16. In FIG. 4, the attachment elements are snaps 22. In FIG. 5, the attachment elements are hooks 24. In FIG. 6, the attachment element is a zipper 26. It is understood that these three attachment elements are intended to be exemplary and non-limiting.

In FIGS. 7A-7C, a decorative attachment 30 is shaped and dimensioned to be attached to the attachment elements shown in FIGS. 4-6. As illustrated, decorative attachment 30 can have many different forms, using different fabrics, different colors, different textures and different designs. The full breadth of possible designs for decorative attachment 30 is essentially unlimited. These decorative attachments 30 for example can come in different colors and styles, such as hanging pearls, beads, crystal jewelry, gold or silver adornments.

In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 8, a bra 100 has a cup portion 102 and a back strap 106. In this arrangement shown in FIG. 8, the clasp 120 is in the middle of back strap 106. As with FIG. 1 and bra 10, this bra 100 may be constructed of any normal materials and fabrics ordinarily used for bras.

As shown in FIG. 8, bra 100 has attachment elements in the form of snaps 122 located on the side of the bra just outside of cup portion 102 near where cup portion 102 connects with back strap 106. Snaps 122 can be arranged in two sets of two vertically aligned snaps. Bra 100, as with most bras, can have three (3) different hook/clasp 120 positions to connect back strap 106. Snaps 122 are placed so that the decorative attachments 130 can be connected to accommodate each bra clasp position (e.g. the measurement from the tightest clasp hooks to the loosest clasp hooks is usually about 1½ inches).

In one embodiment, snaps 122 are one inch apart to accommodate the different hook positions. In one arrangement bra 100 original sample is a size 34 bra and may be adjusted to appropriately accommodate other bra sizes, such as 32, 34 36, 38, 40 and larger. Most backless bras have 3 clasp/hooks and are 1½ wide in the middle. Decorative arrangement 130 may be at least 2½ inches wide in the middle to completely cover back strap 106 of bra 100. Bras are narrowest in the middle of the back strap and then increase in width gradually until the band meets the cup. This is required for the bra to stay on properly. The sizing requirements of snaps 122 and decorative attachment 130 may differ and increase as the width of the bra size increases.

Bra 100 can accommodate different sized decorative attachments 130 using the two different vertically aligned sets of snaps 122. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B a decorative attachment 130 can be attached to cover back strap 106 by connecting to snaps 122. It is understood that decorative attachment 130, like decorative attachment 30, can have many different forms, using different fabrics, different colors, different textures and different designs. FIGS. 10A-10C show additional options for decorative attachments 130.

FIGS. 11A-11C show decorative attachment 130 having two different fabrics. A middle section or decorative area 140 of decorative attachment 130 may be made from a non-stretch fabric of any material with or without embellishments (FIGS. 11A-11B). However, the primary material of decorative attachment 130 (FIGS. 11B (ends)-FIG. 11C) can be made of a stretch material to accommodate the different snap positions.

While only certain features of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes or equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore, to be understood that this application is intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bra arrangement comprising: a bra, said bra having a cup area and a backstrap, said bra further comprising a pair of connection elements on opposing sides of said bra behind respective portions of said cup area and prior to respective portions of said back strap; and a decorative attachment, said decorative attachment having connection points at either end, configured to attached to corresponding said connection elements on said bra. 